Paper file



C 2.. i I QQL 3 19349 R. G FERRERA PAPER FILE Filed May 23, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l it .lilillillllllll Oct. 9, 1 934. R G FERRERA 1,976,390

PAPER FILE Filed May 23, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @QHQQQIQQINH 3 3 azaozzddkirrera, Z2 2 w viiys R. G. FERRERA PAPER FILE Oct. 9, .1934.

Filed May 25, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to paper files, for the filing and indexing of cards and other papers, and aims to provide a compact and convenient, portable filing equipment for'the use of salesmen and others.

The invention will best be understood by ref erence to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the file as it appears when fully closed;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the file partially opened;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the file fully opened, portions thereof being broken away to save space in the drawings;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the file as it appears when fully opened;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows on said line; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 66 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows on said line.

Referring to thedrawings and to the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, and having reference at first to Fig. 4, the file comprises one or more, herein two, vertical series of cardslO, having their index-receiving margins arranged in overlapping relationship to constitute what is commonly known as a visible index. These cards are mounted in two vertical series of card-filing pockets 11 (now see Fig. 5), each comprising a front wall hinged at its lower edge 12 to swing forwardly, the hinges being suitably spaced in a vertical direction to afford space for one or more cards in each pocket. In Fig. 40 5, the cards are omitted, in order that the construction of the pockets may be shown more clearly. The pockets of both series are securely mounted on a vertical mounting 13. The depth of each pocket is such that the upper index-receiving margin of the card in the pocket is exposed to view, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, appropriate members, as shown in Fig. 4, may be associated with the several pockets. In the example shown, the members run from 1 to 30, representing days of the month. The card which is to be used for a given date can be inserted in the proper pocket bearing that date.

Below the card pocket, one or more card filing receptacles 14 are hinged as at 15 on the mounting 13 to swing forwardly (see Fig. 5) to enable convenient access to be had to the pockets thereabove. While these receptacles, as shown in Fig. 5, are empty, it is intended that they shall be provided with guide cards 16, as shown in Fig. 4, having tabs projecting above the tops of the receptacles. As shown, one set of tabs is provided with an alphabetical index, and the other with a numerical index. Transfers of cards may be made as circumstances may require from one of these receptacles to the other, and from either 6 receptacle to the hereinbefore described pockets, and vice versa.

In the present example, the two series of pockets and the two receptacles therebelow are spaced horizontally (see Fig. 4), and this space affords a convenient location for a third receptacle 1?. whose front, sides and bottom, as shown in Fig. 6, are hinged as at 18 to the mounting 13. This receptacle may serve as a' convenient storage place for writing instruments. A separable fastener, herein a common form of ball and socket fastener comprising a ball member 19 and a socket member 20, is employed normally to retain the receptacle in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. The receptacle, when unfastened, may be swung forwardly and downwardly to some such position as that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. to gain access to the interior. As shown in Fig. 4, the numbers associated with the pockets 11 are placed upon the front face of the receptacle 17.

As herein shown, the file also comprises a horizontal series of vertical filing compartments 21, 22 and 23. The compartments 21 and 22 may conveniently serve for the filing of letters, catalogs and other papers. The compartment 23 contains the 'hereinbefore described cards, pockets and receptacles. This compartment comprises front and back walls 24 and 25 (see Fig. 2), which are connected to each other by flexible top, side and bottom walls 26, 2'7 and 28. The top and side walls are divided into front and rear sections, which arenormallyconnectedto each other by appropriate fastening means, herein two separable fasteners 29 of Well-known form, having sliders 30, whose normal position is shown in Fig. 2. These fasteners extend from the center of the top wall 26 to the side walls 27, and thence downwardly to the bottom wall 28 (see Fig. l), and the center of the bottom wall constitutes a hinge to enable the front wall and the front sections of the top and side walls when unfastened to be swung forwardly and downwardly into a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to aiford access to the cards, pockets and receptacles. The front wall, when in this position, constitutes a convenlent writing surface, upon which cards and other papers may be laid for inspection, and the making of entries thereon. It is obvious that, instead of employing two of the fasteners 29, there might be employed a single one, whose length is equal to the combined lengths of the two which are shown. When the compartment 23 is closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it conceals and protects the cards, the pockets and the other receptacles, and holds them in upright position As a further protection to the contents of the file, and more particularly to the contents of the compartments 21 and 22, there is provided a flex-w ible fiap 31 (see Figs. 1 and 2), which normally eX- tends across the tops of the horizontal series of vertical compartments, and thence part way down the front face of the front wall 24 of the compartment 23. A suitable separable fastener,

such as a lock comprising a member 32 carried by the fiap, and a member 33 secured to the front wall, serves to secure the flap in its normal position. As herein shown, straps 34 disposed entirely about the file are provided with buckles 35. A handle 36, attached to the top of the flap 31, enables the file to be transported conveniently. Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to se-.

cure is: 1 p

1. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series of card-filing pockets adapted toreceive a vertical series of cards having their index-receiving margins arranged in overlapping relationship, a horizontal series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets for said cards, such compartment comprising front and rear Vertical walls, said front wall being hinged-at its lower edge to enable it to be swung downwardly to afford access to said pockets and cards, and means normally to connect said front wall to said rear wall to hold said front wall in vertical position to conceal and to protect said pockets and cards. 2. In a vertical file, the combinationgof a vertical series of card-filing pockets, a'horizontal series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets, such compartment comprising front and rear vertical walls, said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to enable it to be swung downwardly to afiord access to said pockets, and top and side walls normally connecting said front and rear walls. I

3. In a vertical file, the combination of a .Vertical series of card-filing pockets, a horizontal-series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets, such compartment comprising front and rear vertical walls, said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to enable it to be swung downwardly to afford access to said pockets, and means normally connecting said front and rear walls, said means including top an side walls and fastening elements.

4. In a vertical file, the combination of a vertical series of card-filing pockets, a horizontal series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets, such compartment comprising front and rear vertical walls, said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to enable it to be swung downwardly to afford access to said pockets, top and side walls between said front and rear walls and divided into front and rear sections, and fasteners connectingadjacent edges of said front and rear sections.

5. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series of vertical card-receiving pockets, a vertical compartment which contains said pockets, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets, and said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, and means normally to connect said front wall to said rear wall to conceal and protect said pockets.

6. In a paper file, the combination of vertical series of vertical card-receiving pockets, and a vertical compartment which contains said pockets, said compartment comprising front and rear, top, side and bottom walls, said bottom wall conv stituting a hinge on which said front wall may be swung forwardly and downwardly, said side "and top wa ls comprising means to secure said front wall in its normal, vertical position.

'7. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series'of card-receiving pockets, each comprising a front wall hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly, a filing compartment which contains said pockets, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets, and said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, and means normally to connect said front wall to-said rear wall to conceal and to protect said pockets and to hold the latter upright.

-8. In a paper file,.the combination of a vertical series of card-receiving pockets, each comprising a front wall hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly, an open-top card receptacle hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly, a filing compartment which contains said pockets and said receptacle, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets and said receptacle, and said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to swingv forwardly and downwardly, and means normally to connect said front wall to said rear wall to conceal and protect said pockets and said receptacle and to hold them upright. I p 9. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series of card-receiving pockets, each comprising a front wall hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly, an open-top card receptacle hinged at its lower edge in front of the lowermost pocket to swing forwardly, a filing compartment which contains said pockets and said receptacle, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets and said receptacle, and said front wall being hinged. at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, and means normally to connect said front wall to said rear wall to conceal and protect said pockets and said receptacle and to hold them upright. '10. In a. paper file, the combination of two vertical series of card pockets, one series being horizontally spaced from the other, a receptacle disposed in the space between said two series of card pockets, said receptacle being hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, a compartment which contains said pockets and said receptacle, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets and said receptacle, and said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, and means normally to prevent said front wall from swinging forwardly.

11. In a paper file, the combination of two vertical-series of card pockets, one series being horizontally spaced from the other, a receptacle disposed in the space between said two series of card pockets, said receptacle being hinged at its lower edge to .swing forwardly and downwardly, a compartment which contains said pockets and said receptacle, said compartment comprising front and rear walls, said rear wall supporting said pockets and said receptacle, and said front wall being hinged at its lower edge to swing forwardly and downwardly, means normally to prevent said receptacle from swinging forwardly, and means normally to prevent said front wall from swinging forwardly.

12. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series of card-filing pockets adapted to receive a vertical series of cards having their indexreceiving margins arranged in vertical series, a horizontal series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets for said cards, such compartment comprising two vertical walls, one of which is hinged at its lower edge and can be swung downwardly to a horizontal position to afiord access to said cards and to enable such Wall to constitute a convenient writing surface upon which cards and other papers may be laid for inspection and for the making of entries thereon, and means cooperating with said walls completely to conceal the cards in said pockets and to protect them throughout.

13. In a paper file, the combination of a vertical series of card-filing pockets adapted to receive a vertical series of cards having their indexreceiving margins arranged in vertical series, a horizontal series of vertical filing compartments, one of which contains said pockets for said cards, such compartment comprising two vertical walls, one of which is hinged at its lower edge and can be swung downwardly to a horizontal position to afford access to said cards and to enable such wall to constitute a convenient writing surface upon which cards and other papers may be laid forinspection and for the making of entries thereon, and means cooperating with said Walls completely to conceal the cards in said pockets and to protect them throughout, said means including a fastener normally connecting and maintaining said walls in generally parallel relationship.

RAYMOND G. FERRERA. 

